Top Chef Nikki Cascone’s 24 Prince Has Closed

After almost five years, 24 Prince has closed, despite aggressively pimping its toque, Nikki Cascone of Top Chef: Chicago. A tipster who heard the news from a staff member tells us it happened a week or two ago. Asked for comment, Top Chef Nikki tells us only that she’s “working on a great project” and will share more details once she has community board approval. Presumably the downtown pasta bar she was planning to open this summer?

It seems 24 Prince’s demise has been in the works for awhile: Community board minutes from back in February indicate that an entity known as Lignoranti LLC was seeking to take over the liquor license (they were denied). In the meantime, 24 Prince’s back patio will go unused on Memorial Day weekend.

Update: Cascone tells us she is “not confirming anything yet” and that a press release is forthcoming.